What Games Are You Playing?

[Lordhippos]

I think I burnt myself out on cyberpunk a little as I was zooming along before the PL release!

I've pre-ordered Lords of the Fallen so will see how I get on, was £36 for std edition from CD keys for the pc version.

 

[Lordhippos]

First major run of Lords of the Fallen complete, I liked the game but it definitely needed a bit more time in the oven to improve stuff before release a bit. Felt like they were forced to release it a couple of months before it was ready, but I think it's lead to some negative reviews from people thanks to bugs/issues.

I started as the Condemned, and my beginning weapon was a broken bucket. Good times.

I completed it without using any boss summon spectre things, wanted to do a harder run with minimal assistance.

I'm going to shelve it for now, I was looking at NG+ but it changes quite a bit, so may or may not just do a new character on my next one.

Next up: Spiderman 2 is hopefully arriving this Friday so that will be what I look at playing this weekend.

 

[NormanicGrav]

I'm disappointed in myself that I haven't made any progress with my gaming backlog. September did have a plan in mind which was to playthrough the One Piece games but the re-read was taking way longer than expected, and then work got so bad a lot of overtime was needed to get back on track. That said, I knew that one particular game was appearing in October than I wanted to play immediately and I had the time to go through it.

---

#19 - Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (PlayStation 5)
Acquired: October 2023

Spoiler

When it comes to superheroes Spider-Man is up there as one of my favourites mainly because of his goals, determination and the storylines that have been shown over the years. It's why I loved the Spider-Verse films and even the live-action films from Sony. I am also no stranger to his video game line-up as I do own a physical PS1 copy of Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro and have played Ultimate Spider-Man on PS2, though I never played the film to video game ones that a lot of people love the most.

But then a few years ago we saw the release of Marvel's Spider-Man which is a new take on the character and his video game antics but done by Insomniac the developers of Ratchet & Clank and Spyro, so it was interesting to see these developers take on the mantle. But they delivered a fantastic and nostalgic video game that reminded me of the older non-HD 3D titles of that era, especially with those two Spider-Man games that I mentioned. Plus it was even a rare case to which I revisited the game to get the remaining trophies and play the DLC content which was a lot of fun. The spin-off and PS5 launch title Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales was also great, which helped flesh out the Miles character.

Now we have the long-anticipated new instalment with Marvel's Spider-Man 2. This game continues to deliver on the gameplay, visuals and story-telling. Now I won't be going into spoilers here so don't worry, but what we did have was a very interesting experience that did remind me a lot of Spider-Man 3 but this time much better on the pacing and build up. Now Kraven's direction is interesting because you get to know more about his motivations and actions from both the story progression and also the side content, and then when Venom storyline shows up it adds more to the weight of Peter's character. It's an interesting ending as well and I very much look forward to what comes next.

Now as much as I have really enjoyed my time playing this game, and even gotten the Platinum trophy after 26 hours of playtime, this game is not a perfect 10/10 experience. Part of the reason is that the gameplay is still great but the content feels slim compared to what I remember with the first game. There's less side content and while what we got was really solid, given how large the game is I don't think there was enough to keep me going. Now they could remedy this with the DLC content but I suppose Insomniac decided to go for a less is more approach and save everything else for later.

The combat was much better than I had imagined and I did enjoy the use of the gadgets and the wing-suit approach during the swinging was very handy. That said the wing-suit method did remind me of Saint's Row IV where superhero powers took over and put car driving to the side, and I feel like this game did that same concept but provided enough of a balance to which swinging isn't forgotten and still shares its use during travel. Speaking of travel, the transition to one character to another and fast-travel from one location to another is super fast and really great.

Some folks complained about the Mary Jane stealth missions but to be honest I liked it because it fit with the stealth parts of what made these Insomniac Spider-Man games great. This game does tone down the stealth parts for the main Spider-Man levels though and that is a shame because it's rewarding to do stealth in a lot of these missions, but at the same time being able to add new web paths is very fun even if it does botch the difficulty of those stealth missions.

Overall I say this is a very good sequel and worth the full price if you are a big fan of the franchise. The story is solid, the gameplay is just as good as the first game even if it feels easy and visually is fantastic. If you do feel that 26 hours isn't enough for the price, just wait for Black Friday or a sale and then pick it up because it's worth your time.

---

My backlog so far:

Spoiler

#​	PC/Steam Backlog - Game Name:​	Genre:
1​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky	Turn-Based RPG
2​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC	Turn-Based RPG

#​	PlayStation 3 Backlog - Game Name:​	Genre:
1​	3D Dot Game Heroes	Action RPG
2​	Bleach: Soul Resurrección	Fighting
3​	Castlevania: Lords of Shadow	Action, Hack n Slash
4​	Catherine	Puzzle
5​	Drakengard 3	Action RPG
6​	Eternal Sonata	Turn-Based RPG
7​	Folklore	Action RPG
8​	Gran Turismo 5 Academy Edition	Racing
9​	inFAMOUS	Action
10​	inFAMOUS 2	Action
11​	Katamari Forever	Puzzle
12​	Prince of Persia	Action, Platformer
13​	Puppeteer	Platformer
14​	SEGA Rally	Racing
15​	Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time	Action, Platformer
16​	Split/Second: Velocity	Racing
17​	Stranglehold	Action, Shooter
18​	Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord	Tactical RPG, Visual Novel
19​	Way of the Samurai 4	Action

#​	PlayStation 4 Backlog - Game Name:	Genre:
1​	13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim	Tactical RPG, Visual Novel
2​	AI: The Somnium Files	Adventure, Visual Novel
3​	Black Clover: Quartet Knights	Action, Fighting
4​	Bullet Girls Phantasia	Action, Shooter
5​	Burnout Paradise Remastered	Racing
6​	The Caligula Effect: Overdose	Turn-Based RPG
7​	Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions	Sports
8​	Catherine Full Body	Puzzle
9​	Chaos;Child	Visual Novel
10​	Conception Plus: Maidens of the Twelve Stars	Turn-Based RPG
11​	CRYSTAR	Action RPG
12​	Cyberdimension Neptunia: Four Goddesses Online	Action RPG
13​	Danganronpa 1 Reload	Visual Novel
14​	Danganronpa 2 Reload	Visual Novel
15​	Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls	Action, Shooter
16​	Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony	Visual Novel
17​	Date A Live: Rinne Utopia (Rio-Reincarnation)	Visual Novel, Dating Sim
18​	Date A Live II: Ars Install (Rio-Reincarnation)	Visual Novel, Dating Sim
19​	Date A Live III: Twin Edition: Rio Reincarnation	Visual Novel, Dating Sim
20​	Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory	Turn-Based RPG
21​	Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories	Adventure, Simulation
22​	Dissidia Final Fantasy NT	Arcade, Fighting
23​	Dragon Quest Heroes II	Action RPG, Musou
24​	Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition	Turn-Based RPG
25​	Dragon's Crown Pro	Action RPG
26​	Fairy Tail	Turn-Based RPG
27​	Fate/Extella Link	Musou
28​	Final Fantasy IX	Turn-Based RPG
29​	Final Fantasy VIII Remastered	Turn-Based RPG
30​	Full Metal Panic! Fight! Who Dares Win	Tactical RPG
31​	Gal*Gun 2	On-Rails Shooter
32​	Gintama Rumble	Action, Musou
33​	GOD EATER 3	Action Hunter RPG
34​	Gravity Rush 2	Action, Platformer
35​	The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures	Visual Novel
36​	The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve	Visual Novel
37​	Gundam Breaker 3 BREAK EDITION	Action, Arcade
38​	The Hong Kong Massacre	Top-Down Shooter
39​	Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Infinite Combate	Action RPG
40​	JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven	Fighting
41​	Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa	Puzzle, Visual Novel
42​	Langrisser	Tactical RPG
43​	Langrisser II	Tactical RPG
44​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel	Turn-Based RPG
45​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II	Turn-Based RPG
46​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III	Turn-Based RPG
47​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV	Turn-Based RPG
48​	Legend of Mana	Action RPG
49​	Megadimension Neptunia VII	Turn-Based RPG
50​	Megadimension Neptunia VIIR	Turn-Based RPG
51​	MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA	Fighting
52​	Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm	Action, Fighting
53​	Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2	Action, Fighting
54​	Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3	Action, Fighting
55​	Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4: Road to Boruto	Action, Fighting
56​	NEO: The World Ends With You	Action RPG
57​	Neptunia Virtual Stars	Action
58​	Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars	Action
59​	Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered	Turn-Based RPG
60​	Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom	Action RPG
61​	Nights of Azure	Action RPG
62​	Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon	Action RPG
63​	One Piece Burning Blood	Fighting
64​	One Piece Unlimited World Red	Action
65​	One Piece World Seeker	Action
66​	One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3	Musou
67​	One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4	Musou
68​	Our World Is Ended	Visual Novel
69​	Persona 5 Royal	Turn-Based RPG
70​	Persona 5 Strikers	Action RPG, Musou
71​	Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney	Visual Novel
72​	Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All	Visual Novel
73​	Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations	Visual Novel
74​	Punch Line	Visual Novel
75​	Raging Loop	Visual Novel
76​	Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-: Prophecy of the Throne	Visual Novel
77​	Robotics;Notes DaSH	Visual Novel
78​	Robotics;Notes ELITE	Visual Novel
79​	RUINER	Action, Shooter
80​	SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays	Tactical RPG
81​	SD Gundam G Generation Genesis	Tactical RPG
82​	Secret of Mana	Action RPG
83​	Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi	Musou
84​	Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal	Action
85​	Shadow of the Colossus	Platformer
86​	Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster	Turn-Based RPG
87​	Star Ocean: First Departure R	Action RPG
88​	Star Ocean: The Last Hope HD Remaster	Action RPG
89​	Steins;Gate Elite	Visual Novel
90​	Super Neptunia RPG	Turn-Based RPG
91​	Super Robot Wars 30	Tactical RPG
92​	Super Robot Wars OG: The Moon Dwellers	Tactical RPG
93​	Super Robot Wars T	Tactical RPG
94​	Super Robot Wars X	Tactical RPG
95​	Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet	Action RPG
96​	Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Sessions!	Music, Rhythm
97​	Tales of Berseria	Action RPG
98​	Tales of Vesperia	Action RPG
99​	Theatrhythm Final Bar Line	Music, Rhythm
100​	Tokyo Xanadu eX+	Action RPG
101​	Trials of Mana	Action RPG
102​	Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception	Tactical RPG, Visual Novel
103​	Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth	Tactical RPG, Visual Novel
104​	Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen	Tactical RPG, Visual Novel
105​	Utawarerumono: Zan	Action, Musou
106​	Valkyria Chronicles 4	Tactical RPG
107​	Valkyria Revolution	Action RPG
108​	WipEout Omega Collection	Racing
109​	The Witch and the Hundred Knight Revival Edition	Action RPG
110​	WORLDEND SYNDROME	Visual Novel
111​	Yakuza 3 Remastered	Action, Beat em up
112​	Yakuza 4 Remastered	Action, Beat em up
113​	Yakuza 5 Remastered	Action, Beat em up
114​	YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World	Visual Novel
115​	Ys IX: Monstrum Nox	Action RPG

#​	PlayStation 5 Backlog - Game Name:	Genre:
1​	Alan Wake Remastered	Action, Shooter
2​	CONTROL Ultimate Edition	Action, Shooter
3​	Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII -Reunion-	Action RPG
4​	Cyberpunk 2077	Action
5​	Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles	Fighting
6​	The DioField Chronicle	Tactical RPG
7​	DOOM Eternal	Action, Shooter
8​	Ghostwire: Tokyo	Action, Survival Horror
9​	GrimGrimoire OnceMore	Real-Time Strategy RPG
10​	Hades	Dungeon Crawler
11​	Judgment	Action, Beat em up
12​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie	Turn-Based RPG
13​	Lost Judgment	Action, Beat em up
14​	Mobile Suit Gundam BATTLE OPERATION Code Fairy	Action
15​	MONARK	Tactical RPG
16​	Neptunia ReVerse	Turn-Based RPG
17​	Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters	Action RPG
18​	Nioh 2	Action Souls RPG
19​	One Piece: Odyssey	Turn-Based RPG
20​	Quake	Action, Shooter
21​	Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit of Wonder Labyrinth	Metroidvania RPG
22​	Relayer	Tactical RPG
23​	SD Gundam Battle Alliance	Action RPG
24​	Star Ocean: The Divine Force	Action RPG
25​	Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin	Action Souls RPG
26​	Tactics Ogre Reborn	Tactical RPG
27​	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2	Sports
28​	Valkyrie Elysium	Action RPG
29​	Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon	Turn-Based RPG
30​	Yurukill: The Calumniation Games	Shoot em up, Visual Novel

#​	PlayStation Classics (via PS5) Backlog - Game Name:	Genre:
1​	Ape Escape	Platformer
2​	Disney Pixar's Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue	Platformer
3​	Everybody's Golf	Sports
4​	Everybody's Golf 2	Sports
5​	Jumping Flash!	Platformer
6​	Kurushi	Puzzle
7​	The Legend of Dragoon	Turn-Based RPG
8​	Syphon Filter	Action, Shooter
9​	Syphon Filter 2	Action, Shooter
10​	Syphon Filter 3	Action, Shooter
11​	Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth	Turn-Based RPG
12​	Wild Arms	Turn-Based RPG
13​	Wild Arms 2	Turn-Based RPG

#​	PlayStation Vita Backlog - Game Name:	Genre:
1​	Bullet Girls	Action, Shooter
2​	Freedom Wars	Action
3​	Muv-Luv	Visual Novel, Dating Sim
4​	Muv-Luv Alternative	Visual Novel
5​	Valkyrie Drive Bhikkhuni	Action

#​	Nintendo Switch Backlog - Game Name:	Genre:
1​	Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition	Adventure, Point & Click
2​	Castlevania (Anniversary Collection)	Action, Platform
3​	Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (Anniversary Collection)	Action, Platform
4​	Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (Anniversary Collection)	Action, Platform
5​	Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Anniversary Collection)	Action, Platform
6​	Castlevania: The Adventure (Anniversary Collection)	Action, Platform
7​	Castlevania: Bloodlines (Anniversary Collection)	Action, Platform
8​	Contra (Anniversary Collection)	Side-scrolling Shooter
9​	Contra Hard Corps (Anniversary Collection)	Side-scrolling Shooter
10​	Contra III: The Alien Wars (Anniversary Collection)	Side-scrolling Shooter
11​	Cytus Alpha	Music, Rhythm
12​	Final Fantasy	Turn-Based RPG
13​	Final Fantasy Adventure (Collection of Mana)	Action RPG
14​	Final Fantasy II	Turn-Based RPG
15​	Final Fantasy III	Turn-Based RPG
16​	Final Fantasy IV	Turn-Based RPG
17​	Final Fantasy V	Turn-Based RPG
18​	Final Fantasy VI	Turn-Based RPG
19​	Fire Emblem: Three Houses	Tactical RPG
20​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero	Turn-Based RPG
21​	The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure	Turn-Based RPG
22​	The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails	Action RPG
23​	The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild	Action RPG
24​	Live A Live	Tactical RPG
25​	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	Racing
26​	Metroid Dread	Metroidvania
27​	Metroid Prime Remastered	Action, Shooter
28​	Mushihimesama	Bullet Hell, Shoot em up
29​	MUSYNX	Music, Rhythm
30​	New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe	Platformer
31​	Operation C (Anniversary Collection)	Side-scrolling Shooter
32​	Powerslave Exhumed	Action, Shooter
33​	Secret of Mana (Collection of Mana)	Action RPG
34​	Senran Kagura Peach Ball	Pinball
35​	Senran Kagura Reflexions	Simulation
36​	Shadow Man Remastered	Action, Adventure
37​	Super Castlevania IV (Anniversary Collection)	Action, Platform
38​	Super Contra (Anniversary Collection)	Side-scrolling Shooter
39​	Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury	Action, Platformer
40​	Super Mario Galaxy	Action, Platformer
41​	Super Mario Sunshine	Action, Platformer
42​	Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	Fighting
43​	Syd of Valis (SD Valis)	Action, Platformer
44​	Trials of Mana (Collection of Mana)	Action RPG
45​	Valis: The Fantasm Soldier	Action, Platformer
46​	Valis II	Action, Platformer
47​	Valis III	Action, Platformer
48​	Valis IV	Action, Platformer
49​	Witch on the Holy Night	Visual Novel
50​	Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition	Action RPG
51​	Xenoblade Chronicles 2	Action RPG
52​	Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country	Action RPG

The 2023 '40' Games Goal:

Spoiler

No.	Game	Console​	Acquired​	Genre
1​	Shining Resonance Refrain	PS4​	2018​	Action RPG
2​	Wing of Darkness	PS4​	2022​	Action, Arcade
3​	Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania	PS4​	2022​	Puzzle
4​	Tales of Zestiria	PS4​	2018​	Action RPG
5​	RESIDENT EVIL 4	PS5​	2023​	Action, Survival Horror
6​	RESIDENT EVIL 2	PS5​	2022​	Action, Survival Horror
7​	RESIDENT EVIL 3	PS5​	2022​	Action, Survival Horror
8​	Resident Evil Revelations	PS4​	2022​	Action, Survival Horror
9​	Resident Evil Revelations 2	PS4​	2022​	Action, Survival Horror
10​	Resident Evil 6	PS4​	2022​	Action, Survival Horror
11​	Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart	Vita​	2018​	Tactical RPG
12​	FINAL FANTASY XVI	PS5​	2023​	Action RPG
13​	Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed	Vita​	2018​	Action, Musou
14​	MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies	Vita​	2018​	Action, Musou
15​	Superdimension Neptunia VS SEGA Hard Girls	Vita​	2018​	Turn-Based RPG
16​	Hot Wheels Unleashed	PS5​	2023​	Arcade Racing
17​	DoDonPachi Resurrection	Switch​	2023​	Bullet Hell, Shoot em up
18​	Espgaluda II	Switch​	2023​	Bullet Hell, Shoot em up
19​	Marvel's Spider-Man 2	PS5​	2023​	Action, Adventure

 

[Lordhippos]

I've been doing quite a bit of gaming last few weeks, especially as the weather cooled down since October kicked off.

I have also completed Spider-Man 2, I enjoyed it but had a few issues/crashes/bugs as I went along.

I went back and did 2 more runs on Lords of the Fallen, that is me done with that game now as I did all 3 endings.

Not really sure what I want to play next, will have a think. I may wait on some as they're better on controller and I am hoping to get a Dualsense Edge one in the Amazon Black Friday sales.

Games on my list to play/try:

Alan Wake 2
Wo Long
Octopath 2
Elden Ring

Got some smaller ones as well to consider playing, and stuff like Surge 2 that was mentioned earlier in the thread, though I am prioritising stuff I can just play on Game Pass such as Wo Long in case it leaves at some point.

 

[Vincentdante]

This month I have been playing some spoopy themed games, I have been playing The Devil in Me from the Dark Pictures anthology set, I started a new playthrough on Forbidden Siren (oh boy is this game hard) and while not a horror game I have also been knee deep into Season 2 on Diablo 4 (which is a major step up from how the game was at launch).

 

[João Gomes]

I've been doing quite a bit of gaming last few weeks, especially as the weather cooled down since October kicked off.

I have also completed Spider-Man 2, I enjoyed it but had a few issues/crashes/bugs as I went along.

I went back and did 2 more runs on Lords of the Fallen, that is me done with that game now as I did all 3 endings.

Not really sure what I want to play next, will have a think. I may wait on some as they're better on controller and I am hoping to get a Dualsense Edge one in the Amazon Black Friday sales.

Games on my list to play/try:

Alan Wake 2
Wo Long
Octopath 2
Elden Ring

Got some smaller ones as well to consider playing, and stuff like Surge 2 that was mentioned earlier in the thread, though I am prioritising stuff I can just play on Game Pass such as Wo Long in case it leaves at some point.

Cool ass list, our good lord.

I’m also getting Alan Wake 2 asap, I just don’t know if I’ll play the MGS remaster that just came out before that, but I don’t think so.

I’m on the final act of Spidey 2 and I don’t find it deserving of 9s and such. An 8 feels perfect because everything is solid and traversal is fun with good presentation, but it’s a completely iterative sequel on an already iterative first game coming off the Arkham games changing the paradigm. There isn’t much that feels original, it’s weird. Waaaay too much combat too. I’m liking the story, however.

So, Lords of the Fallen, what do you think about it? Are you a souls junkie or is it just a good game?

 

[Lordhippos]

I have been playing The Devil in Me from the Dark Pictures anthology set

I really like these kinds of games, I've played a lot of the good ones. I've done Until Dawn, The Quarry, all of the Dark Pictures ones (including Devil in Me), Detroit Become Human, Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls.

I like how your choices matter and change the story around. I did most of these co-op with a friend as well, we did couch co-op and swapped controller back and forth. Some of these games give you a number of characters so we'd each have control of different ones.

I have also been knee deep into Season 2 on Diablo 4 (which is a major step up from how the game was at launch).

I like the core game but the looting needed work. I got tired of having to read each drop in detail to know if it was worth keeping or not, I will come back when they improve the looting mechanics to make it easier.

I’m also getting Alan Wake 2 asap

I am not sure if I'll like it or not as I'm not usually into strict horror, B-movie stuff is fine, we'll see how I get on!

I’m on the final act of Spidey 2 and I don’t find it deserving of 9s and such. An 8 feels perfect because everything is solid and traversal is fun with good presentation, but it’s a completely iterative sequel on an already iterative first game coming off the Arkham games changing the paradigm. There isn’t much that feels original, it’s weird. Waaaay too much combat too. I’m liking the story, however.

Yeah it's very much iterative, I liked it but it's not a perfect game either. Combat was fun, but the annoying ranged guys you keep having to dodge away form were the worst enemies.

So, Lords of the Fallen, what do you think about it? Are you a souls junkie or is it just a good game?

I have played some of the souls type games, Sekiro is my fav one, but not loads of them. I did like it but it's still quite buggy, wait for a sale maybe if you aren't in a rush to play it, but it's got some cool atmosphere and the different classes/endings give you at least a few runs on it if you enjoy it.

Lies of P was my fav one lately though, I prefer that.

 

[Dai]

The Callisto Protocol
This game got a raw deal at launch. People asked for a new Dead Space for years, and just when this spiritual successor to the series came along, so did a high-profile remake of the original.

The main complaint I saw about The Callisto Protocol when the reviews came in was that the central dodging mechanic didn't work properly. Playing it for the first time a year later, I don't know if that was blown out of proportion or if it's been improved through patches, but it worked fine for me.

That said, it's unsurprising that a game that mostly involves beating monsters to death with a stick is itself a blunt instrument. The visuals are technically impressive, but repetitive, with repeating environmental elements betraying that this was probably a lower budget production than the surface gloss would suggest. Its approach to horror is similarly repetitive, reading from an orthodox playbook of jump scares and constant high-pitched strings. Such elements were the bread-and-butter of Dead Space, but feel like a tribute act here rather than an evolution. I'm normally very susceptible to jump scares, but their placement and timing was so predictable here (in part because it lifts signature scares from Dead Space verbatim) that I didn't flinch once.

Maybe it's the monster designs that cause the game to fall short of Dead Space. In every other respect, from design language to plot, Callisto Protocol apes its predecessor, but probably couldn't legally get away with using the distinctive spiky look of the necromorphs. The problem is that they don't have a strong alternative design concept to replace it, which left me feeling like I was murdering a bunch of guys with proteus syndrome for half the game. The blind not-clickers that show up later on are a little creepy at first, until you realise they can't detect you unless you literally bump into them while sneaking around, and don't even react to the screams of their buddies while you noisily stab them to death a couple of feet away. Boss encounters are similarly underwhelming, with the same two bullet-sponges showing up over and over throughout the game to make sure you don't stock up too much ammo.

I'm being pretty harsh here, but honestly I could easily have seen Dead Space 4 being something like this. Maybe the concept and gameplay had just been wrung dry by the first two games. Callisto Protocol is a decent game and probably worth playing for anyone who wants more Dead Space. Just be aware that its remit was clearly no more ambitious than being "more Dead Space".

 

[Lordhippos]

I struggle a bit with horror games where it's more horror/jump scare and less atmosphere/thriller, I don't think I'd get on with Dead Space or Callisto Protocol despite liking a good sci-fi setting, but I put myself through Alien Isolation a while back and that was really good despite the damn alien hunting me down and ruining my exploration!

I'm hoping Alan Wake isn't trying to go down the horror route too much when I try it...

 

[HWR]

I’m now on the final stretch of Cyberpunk 2077, having completed everything, DLC included, bar a few endings. With the exception of certain gigs and side quests taking ages to spawn and the odd crash here and there, this has been a much better experience all-around.

 

[João Gomes]

Callisto feels like The Order 1886 all over again. Incredible graphics and atmosphere but gameplay and level design feel like an afterthought. There is no substance or variety and if you’ve seen one enemy, the two headed boss and those vertical tentacle bags, then you’ve just about seen it all.

In a different world it could have been incredible, but alas.

While I’ve not yet played AW 2, they’ve been pretty clear that it’s full horror @Lordhippos, so beware of that. On the other hand, if you can handle Alien Isolation, I think you’re good to take any horror game lol

 

[Lordhippos]

While I’ve not yet played AW 2, they’ve been pretty clear that it’s full horror @Lordhippos, so beware of that. On the other hand, if you can handle Alien Isolation, I think you’re good to take any horror game lol

I'm sort of OK if I have a reliable way to defend myself, with previous AW game, from what I recall it was torch + gun usage to take care of enemies.

The very worst horror game you can chuck me into is one which succeeds in being genuinely scary whilst also giving me no tools or weapons. That kind of game is the worst.

 

[João Gomes]

The very worst horror game you can chuck me into is one which succeeds in being genuinely scary whilst also giving me no tools or weapons. That kind of game is the worst.

Same, horror games where you’re completely defenseless or close to it are nightmarish (which is the point, yes)with the added weakness that stalker enemies are super effective against me and cause me genuine dread…

I prefer eerie than terrifying but I’ll try anything if it’s good.

 

[Dai]

I'm sort of OK if I have a reliable way to defend myself

You would probably be fine with Callisto Protocol then. It has the most forgiving dodge mechanic I've seen, to the point that it makes the monsters look incompetent for constantly swinging and missing while you float like a butterfly, sting like a skinhead with a cattle prod. Checkpoints are every few minutes, so you don't have that tension about losing a lot of progress.

One positive I forgot to mention is how weighty and impactful the combat feels. That's one of the toughest things to get right in a game, and the developers deserve points for nailing it.

 

[Lordhippos]

I've briefly tried Alan Wake 2 and I think it's not for me, true crime mystery solving that has me running around looking for clues, can't get into it. May try out something else on my list instead.

Wo Long seems more my thing so far, enjoying the start of this one.

 

[Gemsy-chan]

Replayed Tales of Arise, ready for the expansion story dlc.

 

[Lordhippos]

I finished Wo Long, fun little arcadey souls like game, it definitely isn't as hard as the others I played but it takes a bit of getting used to as it's much faster paced.

This is very loosely based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is itself a romanticised version of the Three Kingdoms events.
Going to wrap up some last bits on Cyberpunk 2077, I will probably re-play this again when I inevitably wind up getting a 5090, next time I start a new game I'm going full netrunner style.

Replayed Tales of Arise, ready for the expansion story dlc.

I really struggled to get into this one properly for some reason, the character art and things were nice but felt a little basic in over-all execution, and the real time combat wasn't really working for me. I've come to the conclusion that whilst JRPG can be good I don't seem to like them all!

I think I prefer the more turn based/tactical ones, like Octopath, Triangle Strategy, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Diofield Chronicle.

Meaning to try out the Xenoblade games at some point though, see how they do.

 

[Lucky_Deity]

Still haven't finished any games in a while (back to working on FF16 again though which I'm still loving so disappointed I haven't finished it yet) and got the last few bits of Sonic Superstars to finish up (late post-game is annoying me so have taken a break) but I did finish another DLC back when it released a month or so ago.

Sonic Frontiers: The Final Horizon (DLC) (PS5)

The alternate / true ending of Sonic Frontiers finally released (for free!) and it was a much more satisfying end game than what we got in the base game. Starting off, the new playable characters, Amy, Knuckles and Tails, all of which haven't been playable in a mainline 3D Sonic game since '06 is just great to finally see. With Amy, she utilities her tarot cards (from Sonic CD) in her move-set and is very focused on jumping, being able to perform a triple jump. Though it is cool they're integrating her fortune telling more, they didn't make much use of her Piko Piko Hammer outside of a few abilities but she was real fun to play as so isn't a huge deal, just hoping the next game will have a better balance. Next up is Knuckles who is unfortunately the weakest of the characters and that is because his gliding and wall climbing abilities feel nerfed compared to the Adventure titles. His glide has a delay when starting up and the turning isn't great, once you adjust you can work with it but doesn't feel as fluid as to what I'm used to. With his wall climbing as well you can only grab onto certain surfaces, losing some of that freedom and I'd say it was done to not break the game but the next character already has an ability which can do that so wouldn't had been any harm letting Knuckles be more free. Overall I still enjoyed my time with Knuckles but definitely needs some work. Finally is Tails, now similar to Knuckles' gliding, Tails also has a delay before his flight but it doesn't bother me as much for some reason and again once you adjust to it, it isn't so bad though I'd still rather it be gone in general. While flying though Tails can cover a lot of air before getting tired and as in previous titles it is always a fun time flying around. Combat wise Tails throws an infinite amount of wrenches which work fine enough, is more fun to use during flight than when grounded though and it is unfortunate his tail whip move from Adventure 1 didn't return. Now for one of Tails' unlockable abilities, the Cyclone from Adventure 2, one of the most busted abilities I've seen in a game in a long time. To fly the cyclone you use your boost metre to fuel it but considering you can easily do the infinite cyloop to give yourself infinite boost, this means infinite flight and you can fly as far and high as you want, letting you skip any of Tails' platforming challenges. Though busted it was very fun which is what I like, if you don't want to break the game, simply don't use it but having the option there I do enjoy. Now something that goes for all characters is that they were not made for combat which is unfortunate but outside of the trials and bosses for Sonic in this DLC, you don't even need to fight the enemies in the overworld so at least you're not forced to fight with these characters.

Next up is Sonic, he plays the same as in the base game though he now has the Spin Dash (which you could unlock with an earlier update but I never did) which when used correctly, you can get some major air and go flying over the map which is both satisfying and saves time when needing to go from point to point. The main objective for Sonic is to climb these huge towers (similar to the fourth island) and beat the trials atop them. The towers themselves were some of the best platforming I've done in a Sonic game, much more creative than what we've seen in the series for years, really utilising Sonic's move-set and not relying much on automation. This was definitely a highlight for me. Now the trials are a mixed bag, most of them are fine if not repetitive and only one of them took me multiple attempts but the final trial was quite the tough one... now I'm going into spoiler territory.

Spoiler: End Game Spoilers

The final trial is a boss rush consisting of the first three Titan battles which on its own wouldn't be that bad but the game gives you a lot of handicaps which are that all stats are put to Lv. 1, you only have 400 rings which don't replenish between battles nor can you acquire more and with Super Sonic losing a ring every second, you more or less have 400 seconds to beat all three bosses (not counting downtime between battles) and finally the only way to parry the bosses is with Perfect Parry (compared to the standard parry which is infinite). Considering the parry is needed to beat the second and third bosses in a timely manner it was vital to learn this and it took me quite a few attempts and as frustrating as it was (especially the second battle) it really did make me think of the best way to optimize the fights to beat them as quick as possible and time their attacks down to the frame. In hindsight I appreciate it more now but doesn't stop it from being a pain in the moment.

Finally is the final boss of the game, the main event, especially considering in the base game, Supreme (the final Titan) was quite underwhelming compared to the first three and that The End (if played on Hard difficulty) was a shoot 'em up (a genre I'm not experienced with so was frustrating originally) which was a bit of a sour note to end a great game on. This new final boss rectifies that though, it starts off with the same Supreme boss fight again which is a cake walk considering I'm max level in all stats but once that is beat, The End fuses with Supreme, giving us a two in one fixing both Supreme and The End. Now this battle was (and not to sound cringe) epic, definitely felt like a Sonic final boss fight (jank included) and all the new animations put in for the QTE's were satisfying, giving that OTT battle shounen vibe. Though despite all that praise, the game does not tell you how to properly damage the boss at all and is honestly awful game design, I only beat it because I looked it up. To explain it as best as possible, The End is connected to Supreme via a giant cord in its back and you have to remove it so you can properly damage it without its health regenning, the thing is, you have no clue how to do that and that is because the way to do it would be something you have never had to do in the game prior. Usually with the lock-on you can freely move around and it'll lock on to what you're facing closest to but with this instead you can lock onto the boss like normal but then you have to proceed to use the dodge button during combat to then lock onto the cord and go from there, literally something that is never needed to be done in the game at any point. Anyway once you know how to do that, the fight is a lot of fun and Sonic getting two new forms in the battle is just the cherry on-top though only one of them is playable being what is dubbed by the community, Super Sonic 2. The other form what is being dubbed by the community also, Cyber Sonic, is only seen during the final cut-scene when finishing off the final boss in a great scene, reminiscent of Sonic X. All the side characters get a role during the battle as well (not playable though), this includes Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Sage and Eggman.

Overall as a huge Sonic fan, especially of the 3D entries, this DLC really took me back to the 2000's era of Sonic which I grew up on and adore despite what people think of them and just made me feel real happy which is what is most important to me when it comes to games or anime or whatever media. I know a lot of people have many more problems with this DLC than I do and I can understand why and a lot of it is deserved but I loved it and glad Sonic Team got to give the ending they wanted to as the late game in the original was clearly rushed which the dev team admitted to due to time constraints. I can't wait to see where they go next with the next mainline 3D entry but I'm looking forward to it.

Oh and one more thing I forgot to mention, the new Cyberspace levels are some of the most creative levels in a Sonic game and were a lot of fun as well, hope to see more of that in the future as well. The music was also top tier as well which goes for both the brand new tracks and remixes of previous tracks in-game. You can hardly go wrong with the OST's in Sonic and this is no different, I listen to the vocal songs on a regular basis.

 

[Lordhippos]

I started Octopath 2 a little, and so far it's every bit as good as 1 was, I began as the thief lady as I like the darker looking stories, and Throne seemed to fit the bill.

 

[Dai]

Paranormasight
An excellent supernatural murder-mystery visual novel with an intriguing story, lots of interesting characters, and an atmospheric soundtrack. The visuals have a desaturated yellow/green palette and heavy use of film grain that I'm pretty sure was influenced by Boogiepop Phantom.

The first hour can feel a bit jarring, as you may feel an awkward disconnect from the protagonist's actions, but it all makes sense by the end. There's a mild point-and-click element to the gameplay, though the bulk of the game is just picking the order to ask questions rather than being able to choose different decisions. There are a handful of times when you can influence events though, and practically all of those are inventive and memorable.

Highly recommended.